2008_06_10_tomatoes_salmonella_nypost_2-thumb-640x480.jpgGrocers are pulling tomatoes from the shelves on news of a salmonella outbreak, reports today's Wall Street Journal and the always alarmist New York Post.

The FDA says the specific type and source of tomatoes causing the salmonella outbreak are still under investigation, but preliminary research suggests that raw red plum, raw red Roma, or raw round red tomatoes are the cause.


The FDA suggests that consumers limit tomato consumption to tomatoes that have not been implicated in the outbreak. These include cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and tomatoes grown at home.

The Wall Street Journal shared two interesting stats from a Deloitte LLP study in their tomato story:
• 57% of Americans say they have stopped eating a particular food either temporarily or permanently as a result of a recent safety recall.
• Nearly nine out of 10 Americans would like to see food stores sell more local produce (Grocery stores, are you listening?!?!)

While we're talking tomatoes, Desert Glory, "the nation's largest grower of greenhouse tomatoes," asked us to remind our readers that you "still have a safe tomato choice." You can read more about their tomato safety here, but eating in season produce as much as possible still seems like the safest and tastiest option to us.

Related Link:
Cooking After Scares

(image: Andrew Baron, licensed under Creative Commons)